Sericea lespedeza
Sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata L.) is a high-tannin forage that has been scientifically proven to reduce parasite loads in sheep and goats. More recent research has shown that sericea lespedeza pellets may offer natural control of coccidiosis. Members of the American Consortium for Small Ruminant Parasite Control have led research efforts to determine the effects of sericea lespedeza on gastrointestinal parasitism in sheep and goats. In Europe, similar research has been done with Sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia), another high-tannin forage.
Articles
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- Misconception of sericea lespedeza as an invasive species; J.A. Mosjidis, T.H. Terrill, J.E. Miller, J.M. Burke, and D. Ball.
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Sericea lespedeza, an anthelmintic plant for goats with great potential in pasture renovation and in pure stands; J.A. Mosjidis, T.H. Terrill, S.A. Shaik, J.E. Miller, B. Kouakou, and G. Kannan.
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Sericea lespedeza for natural control of coccidiosis; Susan Schoenian [Timely Topic, May 2014].
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Sericea lespedeza: "wise man's alfalfa"; Tom Terrill [Timely Topic, December 2014].
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Using tannin-containing legumes to control GI parasites: to pellet or not; Herve Hosté [Timely Topic, June 2017].
Conference proceedings
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Sericea Lespedeza; Jorge A. Mosjidis and Thomas H. Terrill; 10th Anniversary Conference of the American Consortium for Small Ruminant Parasite Control, Fort Valley, Georgia [May 2013].
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Smart Man's Lucerne and Worm Control; Tom Terrill and Jorge A. Mosjidis. W4: What Works with Worms Congress, Pretoria, South Africa [May 2015].
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The Use of Sericea Lespedeza (Smart Man's Lucerne) in South Africa. H. Botha. W4: What Works With Worms Congress, Pretoria, South Africa [May 2015].
Factsheets
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Best Management Practices: Sericea lespedeza; Thomas Terrill and Niki Whitley, Fort Valley State University [Best Management Practices, December 2023]. --En Español--
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Tools for Managing Internal Parasites in Small Ruminants: Sericea Lespedeza; Linda Coffey, Margo Hale, Tom Terrill, Jorge Mosjidis, Jim Miller and Joan Burke; NCAT/ATTRA and Southern (American) Consortium for Small Ruminant Parasite Control [2007].
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​Podcasts
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Natural parasite control with lespedeza. Tom Terrill. Fort Valley State University. For the Love of Goats. [March 2020]
Research
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Dose titration of sericea lespedeza leaf meal on Haemonchus contortus infection in lambs and kids; J. Burke, N. Whitley, D. Pollard, J. Miller, T. Terrill, K. Moulton, and J. Mosjidis; Veterinary Parasitology [September 2011].
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Effect of Ensiling on Efficacy of Sericea Lespedeza against Gastrointestinal Nematodes and Coccidia in Goats. Niki Whitley et al. Journal of Agricultural Science & Technology [2018].
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Effect of feeding sericea lespedeza leaf meal in goats experimentally infected with Haemonchus contortus; B. Joshi, D. Kommuru, T. Terrill, J. Mosjidis, J. Burke, K. Shayka, and J. Miller; Veterinary Parasitology [May 2011].
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Effect of supplemental sericea lespedeza leaf meal pellets on gastrointestinal nematode infection in grazing goats; S. Gujja, T. Terrill, J. Mosjidis, J. Miller, A. Mechineni, D. Kommuru, S. Shaik, and J. Burke; Veterinary Parasitology [January 2013].
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Effect of pelleting on efficacy of sericea lespedeza hay as a natural dewormer in goats; T.H. Terrill, J.A. Mosjidis, D.A. Moore, S.A. Shaik, J.E. Miller, J.M. Burke, J.P. Muir, and R. Wolfe; Veterinary Parasitology [February 2007]
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Effect of sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata) fed as hay, on natural and experimental Haemonchus contortus infections in lambs; K.C. Lange, D.D. Olcott, J.E. Miller, J.A. Mosjidis, T.H. Terrill, J.M. Burke, and M.T. Kearney; Veterinary Parasitology [2006].
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Efficacy of sericea lespedeza hay as a natural dewormer in goats: dose titration study; T. Terrill, G. Dykes, S. Shaik, J. Miller, B. Kouakou, G. Kannan, J. Burke, and J. Mosjidis; Veterinary Parasitology [July 2009].
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Effects of feeding sericea lespedeza as a natural anthelmintic for Haemonchus contortus in lactating does; J. Vest, M. Brown, J. Kohler, M. Hudson, S. Nusz, J. Burke, J. Miller, C. Mackown, and E. Walker; American Society of Animal Science. [August 2012].
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Effects of feeding sericea lespedeza hay to goats infected with Haemonchus contortus; S. Shaik, T. Terrill, J. Miller, B. Kouakou, G. Kannan, R. Kaplan, J. Burke, and J. Mosjidis; Southern Section of the American Society of Animal Science [March 2005].
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Grazing sericea lespedeza for control of gastrointestinal nematodes in lambs; J. Burke, J. Miller, J. Mosjidis, and T. Terrill. Veterinary Parasitology [July 2012].
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Quebracho tannins aid in the control of Eimeria spp. and gastrointestinal nematodes in lambs and goat kids. Mohan Acharya et al. Veterinary Parasitology. [December 2020].
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Sericea lespedeza as an aid in the control of Eimeria spp. in lambs; J.M. Burke, J.E. Miller, T.H. Terrill, S.T. Orlik, M. Archarya, J.J. Garva, and J.A. Mosjidis; Veterinary Parasitology [December 2012].
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Sericea lespedeza as an aid in the control of coccidiosis in lambs; J. Burke, J. Miller, T. Terrill, S. Orlik, M. Acharya, J. Garza and J. Mosjikis; Southern Section of the American Society of Animal Science [March 2013].
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Sericea lespedeza hay as a natural deworming agent against gastrointestinal nematode infection in goats; S.A. Shaik, T.H. Terrill, J.E. Miller, B. Kouakou, G. Kannan, R.M. Kaplan, , J.M. Burke, and J.A. Mosjidis; Veterinary Parasitology [February 2006].
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Use of a mixed sericea lespedeza and grass pasture system for control of gastrointestinal nematodes in lambs and kids; J. Burke, J. Miller, J. Mosjidis, and T. Terrill. Veterinary Parasitology [July 2012].
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Use of pelleted sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata) for natural control of coccidia and gastrointestinal nematodes in weaned goats; D.S. Kommuru, T. Barker, S. Disai, J.M. Burke, A. Ramsay, I. Mueller-Harvey, J.E. Miller, J.A. Mosjidis, N. Kamiesetti, and T.H. Terrill. Veterinary Parasitology [August 2014].
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Using copper oxide wire particles or sericea lespedeza to prevent a peri-parturient rise of gastrointestinal nematodes in sheep and goats; J. Burke, S. Orlik, J. Miller, T. Terrill, and J. Mosjidis; Livestock Science [July 2010].
​Useful information
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Frequent questions and answers regarding sericea lespedeza; J.A. Mosjikis, T.H. Terrill, J.E. Miller, J.M. Burke, and D. Ball.
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Planting sericea lespedeza for researchers; J.A. Mosjidis.
Videos
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Sericea lespedeza for parasite control. Tom Terrill. ASI Research Update. American Sheep Industry Association. [2016]
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Sericea lespedeza. Niki Whitley and Tom Terrill. University of Maryland Webinar series [2016].
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Last updated 05.20.24. Links verified 11.02.23.
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